Partially disposable inflatable bedpan

ABSTRACT

AN INFLATABLE PARTIALLY DISPOSABLE, BEDPAN COMPRISING A NON-DISOSABLE INFLATABLE U-SHAPED CUSHION AND A DISPOSABLE BODY WASTE RECEPTACLE REMOVABLY SECURED WITHIN THE EXTENSIONS OF THE U-SHAPED CUSHION. THE RECEPTACLE COMPRISES, IN ADDITION TO A WASTE BAG, A PERINEAL APRON AND AN EXTENDED OPPOSING FLAP OR APRON COVER WHICH, WHEN LAID ON THE TOP OF THE CUSHION, CONFROMS TO AND PROTECTS THE SURFACE OF THE CUSHION FROM PATIENT CONTACT. THE WASTE BAG MAY BE SEPARATED FROM THE PROTECTION FLAP AFTER USE BY BREAKING A PERFORATION MIDWAY BETWEEN THE BAG AND APRON COVER, THEREBY PERMITTING USE AND SAFE AND SANITARY DISPOSAL OF THE WASTE WITHOUT MOVING THE PATIENT OR CONTAMINATING THE CUSHION.

Oct. 5, 1971 AVOY 3,609,771

PARTIALLY DISPOSABLE INFLATABLE BEDPAN Filed Oct. 27, 1969 INVENTQR.Donald R. Avoy K M ATTOfi Ys United States Patent 01 ice 3,609,771Patented Oct. 5., 1971 3,609,771 PARTIALLY DISPOSABLE INFLATABLE BEDPANDonald R. Avoy, 1012 Whiteoak Drive, San Jose, Calif. 95129 Filed Oct.27, 1969, Ser. No. 869,494 Int. Cl. A61g 9/00 U.S. Cl. 4--113 4 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An inflatable partially disposable bedpancomprising a non-disposable inflatable U-shaped cushion and a disposablebody waste receptacle removably secured within the extensions of theU-shaped cushion. The receptacle comprises, in addition to a waste bag,a perineal apron and an extended opposing flap or apron cover which,when laid on the top of the cushion, conforms to and protects thesurface of the cushion from patient contact. The waste bag may beseparated from the protection flap after use by breaking a perforationmidway between the bag and apron cover, thereby permitting use and safeand sanitary disposal of the waste without moving the patient orcontaminating the cushion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Previously known bedpans include rigid steeland porcelain devices which have been found to be heavy, uncomfortableand diflicult to handle, especially after use. Those which areinflatable may or may not include a disposable portion. Those pans whichdo not include a disposable portion must be entirely disposable or theymust be autoclaved which increases the cost of replacement ormaintenance. Those pans which include disposable as well as reusableportions are often found to require less maintenance but still are founddifiicult to use in that to dispose of the body wastes after use, thepatient invariably must be moved in order to remove the body wastereceptacle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a simple inflatable,partially disposable bedpan with features that protect the reusableparts from contaminating patient contact and which permits removal ofthe body waste receptacle without requiring the user to move or be movedfrom the pan.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a U-shapedinflatable cushion and a receptacle for receiving and containing bodywastes adapted to be removably secured between the extensions of theU-shaped cushion. The receptacle is provided with a waste bag, perinealapron and an opposing flap or apron cover which covers the surface ofthe cushion preventing patient contact. After use, the waste bag andperineal apron are separated from the protecting flap or apron cover bymeans of a pull-tab disposed at a point which is easily accessiblebetween the patients legs, whereby the waste bag can be removed withoutunduly disturbing the patient.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the drawings described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the manner of use of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the receptacle portion of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the receptacle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cushion of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the cushion of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIG. 1 there is shown in accordance with thepresent invention, a receptacle for receiving and containing body wastesindicated generally as 1.

Receptacle '1 is removably secured to a U-shaped cushion indicatedgenerally as 2.

As shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, receptacle 1 comprises a bodywaste bag 3, having a top flap which is enlarged to form a perinealapron 4 and an enlarged bottom or opposing flap serving as an aproncover 5. Receptacle 1 may be made, for example, in the manner of a paperbag lined with a thin layer of plastic to provide strength andwaterproofness. Apron cover 5 is appropriately shaped to conform to thesurface of U-shaped cushion 2 and its extensions 14, as shown in moredetail in FIGS. 4 and 5. The undersurface of apron cover 5 is providedwith a suitable adhesive which will removably secure apron 5 to cushion2. When secured to cushion 2, apron 5 protects cushion 2 fromcontaminating patient contact. Receptacle 1 is at least partiallyperforated along a margin 10 that defines the intersection of the frontand top surfaces of cushion 2. A pull-tab 11 is provided near a pointmidway between the ends of the perforated section of receptacle 1 tofacilitate separation of the waste bag 3 from apron cover 5.

In the preferred embodiment, cushion 2 is plastic or rubber andinflatable rather than being a stuffed cushion or the like. As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, cushion 2 is provided with an inflation tube 12 and aclamp 13. Tube 12 may be adapted by means not shown for use with anysuitable gas system such as, for example, the compressed air and oxygenoutlets which are widely available in hospitals. It will be apparentthat warm or cool water might also serve a useful purpose and thusprovide a desirable alternative means of inflation. The U-shaped oropenended feature of cushion 2, unlike the conventional dough-nut shapedcushions, permits easy access for attendants.

In use, cushion 2, uninflated, is brought into contact with apron 5 ofan unused receptacle 1 so that the adhesive undersurface of apron 5adheres to cushion 2. It is apparent that other methods to removablysecure apron cover 5 to the surface of cushion 2 may be used, such as,tie strings, not shown. In a deflated condition, cushion 2 andreceptacle 1 are placed under the patient in the manner suggested byFIG. 1 and cushion 2 is inflated. The perineal apron 4 is placed overthe anterior aspect of the patients pelvis to divert the urinary streaminto the waste bag 3 as shown in FIG. 1. This also opens and maintainsthe patency of the bag. Before deflation, waste bag 3 and perineal apron4 can be removed simply by an attendant pulling on tab 11 to sever bag 3from apron cover 5. Cushion 2 may then be deflated and removed or leftunder the patient protected by apron cover 5 until a later possibly moredesirable time. When cushion 2 is soughto be reused, the remaining aproncover 5 is stripped off and a fresh receptacle 1 is inserted in place asabove described.

In accordance with the above description, I claim as my invention:

1. In a bedpan assembly using a U-shaped cushion as a user-supportingmember, the improvement comprising: a bag for receiving and containingbody Wastes removably secured between the extended arms of said U-shapedcushion; a protecting flap removably secured to and extending rearwardlyfrom said bag towards said cushion and formed to overlay said cushion toprotect said cushion when in use from body contact by a user thereof andmeans intermediate said bag and said flap for detaching after use, saidbag from said flap for disposal thereof.

2. In a bedpan assembly according to claim 1, the improvement furthercomprising: margin between said bag and said flap and separating meansattached to the upper part of said bag adjacent said margin for use inseparating said bag from said flap along said margin.

3. In a bedpan assembly according to claim 1 wherein said margincomprises a line of partial perforations and said separating meanscomprises a pull tab.

4. In a bedpan assembly according to claim 3, the improvement furthercomprising: a perineal apron attached to the periphery of said bagopposite said flap, said perineal apron being adapted to be placed overthe anterior aspect of the patients pelvis whereby said bag is openedand its patency maintained.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Gavin 4-113 Snyder 4l13 Sawyer4113 Rode 4113 Coulter 5-337 Presseisen 4113 Coultcr 4113 Scott 4113Oring et a1. 4-112 West 4113 HENRY K. ARTIS, Primary Examiner

